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twistertail
senior member (86)senior membersenior member
  
05/16/2019 10:39AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Is there a good clamp on rod holder for spinning rods? I've got a few that I use at home on my canoe but they are not the best, most that I've seen are good for a casting rod or trolling rod but not so much for a spinning rod.
 
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flynn
distinguished member (385)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/16/2019 11:04AM  
I just shopped around a bunch for rod holders and it looks like it really depends on your canoe. Some holders don't seem to tighten down enough, others have a bad angle, and some simply don't fit rods with short handles or large reels. I don't own a canoe so I can't buy a bunch and test them and send the rest back, so I ended up not buying any. I am renting one from VNO in June that is one of those really simple metal skeleton ones with rubber lining, not a plastic one like those from Scotty. I hope this helps in some way...
 
twistertail
senior member (86)senior membersenior member
  
05/16/2019 11:15AM  
I'm renting gear from VNO in July, please let me know how the rod holders work.
 
Tyler W
distinguished member (127)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/16/2019 01:28PM  
If you have two legs you already have the best canoe rod holder. Put the handle behind one knee and the rod in front of the other knee. I prefer to paddle on my right hand side, so the rod handle goes under my right knee. I have paddled MILES trolling for lake trout like that.
 
05/16/2019 01:32PM  
I've used The Loc Tite clamp ons with several different canoe styles. If there is a significant tumblehome I would trim a block of wood to get a tight hold.
 
Jackfish
Moderator
  
05/16/2019 01:56PM  
Tyler W: "If you have two legs you already have the best canoe rod holder. Put the handle behind one knee and the rod in front of the other knee. I prefer to paddle on my right hand side, so the rod handle goes under my right knee. I have paddled MILES trolling for lake trout like that. "

What Tyler said. And for walleyes... and for northerns.
 
flynn
distinguished member (385)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/16/2019 04:15PM  
I've tried trolling like that, but unless I specifically tuck the rod handle under my knee, and bend my knee, it doesn't stay there. Maybe I'm doing it wrong. I have some Gear Ties that I'm going to be trying this weekend, hoping they can keep the rod nice and secure against the thwart while trolling. We'll see.
 
Jackfish
Moderator
  
05/16/2019 05:01PM  
flynn: "I've tried trolling like that, but unless I specifically tuck the rod handle under my knee, and bend my knee, it doesn't stay there. "

Tucking the rod behind one ankle and having it in front of the other shin is the way our entire group does it. I'm always in the stern so I have the ability to tuck one of the rod eyes inside the gunwale for an extra bit of support.

Our entire group has done it that way for 30 years or so. I guess it works. :) One less piece of equipment to carry and deal with, too.
 
flynn
distinguished member (385)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/16/2019 05:12PM  
Jackfish: "
flynn: "I've tried trolling like that, but unless I specifically tuck the rod handle under my knee, and bend my knee, it doesn't stay there. "

Tucking the rod behind one ankle and having it in front of the other shin is the way our entire group does it. I'm always in the stern so I have the ability to tuck one of the rod eyes inside the gunwale for an extra bit of support.

Our entire group has done it that way for 30 years or so. I guess it works. :) One less piece of equipment to carry and deal with, too. "

That's how I did it, with the handle on the floor. It didn't feel secure at all. I was just waiting for a big fish to slam it (or snag a deep rock pile) and watch the rod fly out of the canoe before I can even react.
 
brantlars
distinguished member(557)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/16/2019 07:25PM  
If you are in the stern just put the rod across the rear thwart with the first eye in front of the thwart and the reel behind it. I have done this for a few years and it works great..your rod stays at 90 degrees to the canoe and you can still paddle on both sides. For the bow paddled I usually just let them fish while I paddle..unless windy..then the foot/knee hold or a rod holder.
 
Tyler W
distinguished member (127)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/17/2019 07:25AM  
flynn:
That's how I did it, with the handle on the floor. It didn't feel secure at all. I was just waiting for a big fish to slam it (or snag a deep rock pile) and watch the rod fly out of the canoe before I can even react."

I do keep my knee bent, but my knee doesn't have to "grip" the rod for it to be secure. I should have also clarified that the rod is resting against the gunwale in front of the other knee so it can't slide back. If your knee starts to lock up from being bent you can always switch sides and use the other knee.

When I am not fishing in a canoe I often have my rods resting in a forked stick. I always make sure one of the larger guides is below the fork. That holds a rod well even when fishing for large rod stealing carp.

If you are still worried, I would switch to a baitfeeder reel (Okuma makes affordable ones) that basically lets you troll with an open bail. You can turn the "bait" tension up high enough to hook a fish when trolling, but low enough not to break your line (or lose your rod) before you can stop a canoe.

If you do like the idea of a rod holder (and who doesn't?) I would buy a trolling specific rod. Slap a cheap line counter reel on it and it will fit in any rod holder. If you have been going up with one rod for both trolling and casting that will change your fishing more dramatically than a rod holder. That makes it simple to troll around until you find somewhere you have to cast or jig, then switch back to a trolling lure to get to the next spot.
 
treehorn
distinguished member(715)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/17/2019 10:30AM  
flynn: "
Jackfish: "
flynn: "I've tried trolling like that, but unless I specifically tuck the rod handle under my knee, and bend my knee, it doesn't stay there. "

Tucking the rod behind one ankle and having it in front of the other shin is the way our entire group does it. I'm always in the stern so I have the ability to tuck one of the rod eyes inside the gunwale for an extra bit of support.

Our entire group has done it that way for 30 years or so. I guess it works. :) One less piece of equipment to carry and deal with, too. "

That's how I did it, with the handle on the floor. It didn't feel secure at all. I was just waiting for a big fish to slam it (or snag a deep rock pile) and watch the rod fly out of the canoe before I can even react."


Just letting you know you're not alone on this. I've never found a comfortable way to troll wedging the rod in my legs while paddling. Always feel like it's either in the way, or it's not secure if I get a bite/snag. I've also never found a rod holder I really like, so it's a constant source of frustration....
 
Jackfish
Moderator
  
05/17/2019 12:27PM  
treehorn: "I've never found a comfortable way to troll wedging the rod in my legs while paddling. Always feel like it's either in the way or it's not secure if I get a bite/snag. "

Trolling with the rod behind one ankle and in front of the other leg is so natural to us, we don't even think about it. We've never lost a rod, although there have been times when the rod got pulled back by a large fish. I guess I find it hard to believe that it's so difficult to learn or do, but everyone is different. To each their own.
 
stormrider1
senior member (63)senior membersenior member
  
05/17/2019 01:09PM  
I use this one from pro troll. Rod Holder I like that you can mount the base on the thwart and take the rod holder out when you're not using it. It holds both spinning and baitcaster rods really well. I could never get the rod between the legs thing to work well.
 
Coppernuts
member (15)member
  
05/17/2019 03:48PM  
I have a great one that costs very little and you can make as many as you like very easily. The only catch is you have to have the right canoe.

Buy a section of 1.5" PVC pipe. Use a hacksaw, sawsall, or whatever to cut a little notch in one end so your reel drops in.

Then lay the PVC out in front of you and bungee it around the bars of a Wenonah canoe. Pretty sure this will work with any canoe that has the tractor/sliding seats.

I screwed around with lots of rod holders over the years and ended up doing the leg thing after they broke or wouldn't stay put.

This gets the rod out away from you a bit. You can customize the length as you see fit. For the front of my canoe, I cut the PVC longer to get the line away from me more on the turns.

You can also remove the PVC at camp and stick it in the ground or bungee it to a tree for a rod holder.

I don't even remove the PVC during portages. The small protrusion is negligible and they really stay put.
 
Coppernuts
member (15)member
  
05/17/2019 04:14PM  
That PVC is on the wrong side of the bar. That's the front seat... geesh, is it happy hour yet? I just did that in my garage for a photo.
 
05/17/2019 04:23PM  
Jackfish: "
Tyler W: "If you have two legs you already have the best canoe rod holder. Put the handle behind one knee and the rod in front of the other knee. I prefer to paddle on my right hand side, so the rod handle goes under my right knee. I have paddled MILES trolling for lake trout like that. "

What Tyler said. And for walleyes... and for northerns."

Agree
 
05/17/2019 05:24PM  
Tyler W: "If you have two legs you already have the best canoe rod holder. Put the handle behind one knee and the rod in front of the other knee. I prefer to paddle on my right hand side, so the rod handle goes under my right knee. I have paddled MILES trolling for lake trout like that. "

"The best" ?

Pic of the one I use on my Old Town. The leg/knee foot method is fine and works and have done it many times, but with a couple of 7' rods in rod holders you can cover a wider area, have the exact angle you want, faster and easier to set your paddle down and easier to paddle in general.
 
KarlBAndersen1
distinguished member(1324)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/17/2019 06:07PM  


 
05/17/2019 06:35PM  
treehorn: "
flynn: "
Jackfish: "
flynn: "I've tried trolling like that, but unless I specifically tuck the rod handle under my knee, and bend my knee, it doesn't stay there. "

Tucking the rod behind one ankle and having it in front of the other shin is the way our entire group does it. I'm always in the stern so I have the ability to tuck one of the rod eyes inside the gunwale for an extra bit of support.

Our entire group has done it that way for 30 years or so. I guess it works. :) One less piece of equipment to carry and deal with, too. "

That's how I did it, with the handle on the floor. It didn't feel secure at all. I was just waiting for a big fish to slam it (or snag a deep rock pile) and watch the rod fly out of the canoe before I can even react."

Just letting you know you're not alone on this. I've never found a comfortable way to troll wedging the rod in my legs while paddling. Always feel like it's either in the way, or it's not secure if I get a bite/snag. I've also never found a rod holder I really like, so it's a constant source of frustration...."

Agree...this methods SUCKS for me :) HATE it. Works well for trolling across a lake or over to a spot but if you really going out and trolling for several hours I need to move around more, sometimes I put my legs out straight. I’ve also had some big northerns and lakers hit and literally turn the canoe slightly sideways. I am not sure this method would have saved my spinning rod, especially if I was adjusting my knee at that moment.

I used to use a rod sentry holder, but you have to add plastidip to the clips and over tighten the wing nut with a leatherman to make it stay for sure. I am way overkill now with a Folbe Jr. just attach the holder onto the thwart and the holder pops right in. Has a quick release. Once again way overkill for 90% of paddlers.

I recognize for many the ol' rod wedge method works just fine. I always tell people to start there and see how it feels, then add a holder if you don’t like it.

The other advantage of a rod holder is you can adjust the angle of the rod. Higher angle trolling shallower lower angle getting deeper. We run each and fine tune it. Also I try to angle the rod backwards slightly when trolling cranks the fish set the hook themselves and that angle allows a better hooking percentage. Sometimes these adjustments make a huge difference sometimes they don’t.

T
 
rpike
distinguished member (181)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/21/2019 01:06PM  
shock: ""The best" ?

Pic of the one I use on my Old Town. The leg/knee foot method is fine and works and have done it many times, but with a couple of 7' rods in rod holders you can cover a wider area, have the exact angle you want, faster and easier to set your paddle down and easier to paddle in general.
"

+1 I trolled with the rod-under-the-leg method for years, and used rod sentries for several more years. The Down Easter rod holder in the picture is bullet proof and far superior for all the reasons Shock mentions. It's a bit heavy, but to me, totally worth it.

Whoever mentioned having one rod rigged for trolling and a second rod rigged for casting is right on the money, too. I have a trolling rod with a line counter reel so I always know how much line I have out. Being able to repeat what worked is incredibly helpful.
 
Mickeal
distinguished member(676)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/21/2019 06:58PM  
Shoreline Marine Adjustable SL52131 Rod Holder Rail-Mount. I have had one for years. Depending on the thwart diameter you may need to add something for a spacer.
 
05/21/2019 09:13PM  
Like "T" I use a Folbe Jr. to troll for walleye, lakers and pike.

I used the rod wedge and knee method for years and it worked quite well. But I like trolling with the Folbe Jr. Rod Holder attached to the front thwart a lot better. Sure its heavier to portage but it holds your rod securely, yet easily releases. You just pull your rod out of the holder and set the hook in one quick motion … all with one hand.

The Folbe Jr. doesn't have a stiff spring to release the rod. The Folbe opens freely when you pull up and slightly to the side on the rod.

I like the way my rod stays at the right angle that I set. I believe I get better hook sets using a rod holder vs. wedging my rod between my knee.



 
05/22/2019 07:29PM  
You can see my set up here but it looks like wally13’s In action, similar rod angle when I am actually fishing.

 
05/22/2019 07:59PM  
T,

Good looking young fisherman there in your pic.

Someday I hope to bring my 7 and 5 year old grandsons up to Quetico to fish. There’s nothing like seeing a big smile on the face of a young boy holding his stringer of fish for the day.
 
Coppernuts
member (15)member
  
05/23/2019 06:55AM  
You can type, and fish, pretty well for being that young!
 
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